ENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS OF STRUCTURED LIPIDS: TRANSESTERIFICATION OF TRIOLEIN AND CAPRYLIC ACID

Structured lipids were successfully synthesized by lipase-catalyzed trans-esterification (acidolysis) of caprylic acid and triolein in nonaqueous medium. Twelve commercially available lipases (10%, w/w substrates) were screened for their ability to form structured lipid by incubating 100 mg triolein and 65.3 mg caprylic acid in 3 ml hexane at 55C for 24 h. The products were analyzed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with evaporative light scattering detection. Monocapryloolein was the major component of the products (57.4 mol %) and IM60 lipase from Rhizomucor miehei was the best biocatalyst. Dicapryloolein and triolein contents were 35.4% and 5.3%, respectively. Temperature, mole ratio, time course, incubation media, added water, enzyme load, and substrate concentration were also investigated in this study. The results suggest that it is possible to synthesize structured lipids with lipase as biocatalyst.